When
Sixth Pay Commission was implemented by Government with effect from 1st
January 2006 in respect of Central Government Employees and pensioners
who got retired after 01.01.2006, Pension payable to Central Government
Pensioners and Family Pensioners entitled to pension as on 31.12.2005
(popularly called as Pre-2006 Pensioners) was also revised. The Pension /
family Pension of Pre-2006 Pensioners as on 31.12.2005 was revised by
adding together:-
1. The Pension or Family Pension as on 31.12.2005.
2. Dearness Pension received by pensioners or family pensioners as on 31.12.2005
3. Dearness relief of 24% of Basic Pension/family pension + Dearness Pension/dearness family pension
4. Fitment weightage of at the rate of 40% of pension or family pension as on 31.12.2005.
If
the revised pension as calculated above is less than Rs.3500, the same
should be stepped up to Pension / family pension of Rs.3500 with effect
from 1.1.2006.
Minimum Pension/Family Pension guaranteed based on pre-revised scale of pay:
Apart from the minimum pension of Rs.3500/-, O.M F.No: 38/37/08-P&PW(A).pt.1 dated 03.10.2008 (
Click here to download),
also provides for minimum pension calculated at 50% of minimum of pay
in the pay band plus grade pay at the minimum of the pay in the pay band
(irrespective of the pre-revised scale of pay) plus the grade pay
corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale.
The
revised pension out of 6CPC revision shall not be less than this
Minimum pension. As far as Family pensioners are concerned, the same OM
dated 03.10.2008, stipulates that the revised family pension in no case
shall be lower than thirty percent (30%) of the sum of the minimum of
the pay in the pay band and the grade pay thereon corresponding to the
pre-revised pay scale in which the deceased government employee last
worked.
In these lines, the Office Memorandum F.No: 38/37/08-P&PW(A).pt.1 dated 14.10.2008 (
Click here to read),
provides a table (Annexure 1 to OM dated 14.10.2008) in which
pre-revised scales of pay applicable with effect from 1.1.1986 and with
effect from 01.01.1996, and corresponding 6th CPC pay band/scales and
grade pay have been given.
Using
this table for the minimum basic pension and family pension applicable
to Pensioner / Family pensioner covered under each pre-revised pay
scales with effect from 1.1.85 and 1.1.96 could be determined. To
illustrate, if the deceased spouse’s last pay drawing scale was
Rs.2000-60-2120 with effect from 1986, the minimum pension of a family
pensioner will be Rs. Rs.4050 (Sl.No: 12 of the table).
So,
to fix the minimum pension/family pension in this case, the pre-revised
pay scale in which retired/deceased employee received his/her last pay,
should be known. However, Banks which were given powers to revise the
pension based on 6CPC revision, did not know pre-revised pay scale of
retired/deceased employee in many cases as Pension Payment Order
originally issued by Central Pension authorities did not contain the
details of the same. Consequently, banks revised the pension only based
on the OM dated 01.09.2008 (existing pension+DP+24%DA+40% fitment
weightage)
This
resulted in payment of reduced pension than the entitled one for
pensioners/family pensioners whose minimum pension/family pension based
on last pre-revised pay scale is more than the pension calculated as as
per 6CPC revision.
To
sanction minimum pension based on last pay scale Banks required the
revision of Pension Payment Order (PPO) by Central Government.
However,
the process of issuing revised PPO, has taken momentum only from the
year 2011. CPAO, New Delhi who authorizes Central Civil Pension,
Department of Pension and pensioner’s welfare etc are taking steps now
for issuing revised PPO. Series of meetings have been held in this
connection.
Click here to read the Minutes of Meeting held by Department of Pension and pensioner’s welfare on 3rd November 2011 at
New Delhi with representatives from various Ministries. As per the
minutes of meeting dated 3rd November 2011, in respect of cases in which
records relating to deceased/retired employees are not available,
advertisements have been given for submission of details by pensioners
themselves (Read this office memorandum dated 16.12.2011).
We
hope this exercise of revising PPO of all Pre-2006 Pensioners and
Family Pensioners would be completed soon. Once revised PPO issued for
the pensioner concerned, the bank will be in position to pay the revised
pension and arrears amount for the past period.
Source : Gconnect.in
